In The Tangiers

[ocean_danny]

Although Danny knew The Tangiers well enough, this was still Ginger's territory. Quite literally, in fact. As they entered, Ginger was still as close, overt and forthcoming as she had been across the road at the Grand. This surprised Danny, if he was honest, but guessed her relationship with her husband, who would no doubt be alerted to their

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[tess_ocean]

After Tess had staged her angry exit from any conversation that her ex-husband had apparently wished to have with her in the Grand, she'd gone up to her and Terry's apartment

[ocean_danny]

Tess may not have been able to see Danny, but Danny had a good view of her entering.

He made his excuses to Sam and Ginger and headed back out to the Lobby, where Tess was looking lost.

"You can't be as lost as you look." Danny said as he approached her, just out of her eyeshot.

[tess_ocean]

Tess was craning her neck, trying to see over the heads of the throngs of people that were bustling about in the Lobby, when she heard his voice and turned in the direction of the source.

"I thought for a minute there..." She stopped herself from finishing the sentence.

"Did I ever strike you as the type of woman who's used to visiting Casinos on her own Danny?" She smiled at him, even if her stomach was in knots.

[ocean_danny]

"Well, I don't think there is anything you wouldn't do, if the occasion called for it."

Danny guided her to a spare table in the lobby, all sumptuous leather seats and waiter service. As he sat across from her, the table separating them, he leaned forward towards her.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I came on too strong. I don't blame you one bit for running out on me."

[tess_ocean]

"I just wasn't expecting..." She wanted to say she wasn't expecting to feel like that, but she paused, looking over the table at him, feeling like she was meeting him for the first time.

"You made me re-think alot of things Danny. I've spent three years getting over you and then this. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. It wasn't fair."

[ocean_danny]

Danny looked across the table at her, gravely.

"So do you feel any differently than you did yesterday?"

Danny cocked his head ever so slightly, eyebrows furrowing as he waited for something he had already decided he wasn't going to like hearing.

[tess_ocean]

"Everything's different from yesterday Danny." Tess took a long slow breath and reached over the table for his hand. Her hand folding softly over his on the table top.

"I'm sorry for being so angry for so long. You didn't deserve that. Being in prison must have been bad enough on its own."

[ocean_danny]

Danny was surprised and blissful at this display of affection for him. Tess had clearly been doing alot of thinking and he hoped that this gesture, at least, meant that things might be looking up for them.

"Well, it wasn't moonlight and roses." Danny smiled, staring at her hand on his.

Finally, he looked back up at her, searching the eyes, hoping for something that would tell him an answer to a question that he was almost afraid to ask.

"What do you want, Tess? Tell me, we can make it happen. You just have to say the words."

[tess_ocean]

How did he do that? He was talking about being in prison, yet the relaxed easy going smile that accompanied his words never failed to make her realise how much she loved him. Danny had the most amazing smile, something she rarely saw even a glimpse of in Terry, even when he was trying.

She looked back at him for the longest time, it was only seconds in reality, but it felt like the world had stopped around them as she looked straight back into those eyes that she'd missed for too long.

Her hand curled under his fingers, holding on to him tighter, as if she needed the physical reassurance that he was really here. That she was really about to admit to herself and him, how she honestly felt.

"I love you Danny. I want you back in my life."

[ocean_danny]

It was a rare thing indeed for Danny to find himself lost for words, but this admission from Tess, whilst not altogether out of left field, was so forthright that it, if only for a couple of seconds, took him aback completely.

He looked deeply into her. "I love you too Tess. Now leave him. Today."

[tess_ocean]

"Today?" It took a moment for that to register. Whilst she'd been letting her emotions lead her, she'd given little thought to the practicalities. And right now they were being drummed into her as much as they were ever going to be.

She looked away from him staring into nothing, thinking it all through, it was gone midnight. She couldn't just pack and leave, let Terry come home to an empty apartment. That wasn't fair on Terry. And she certainly couldn't waltz into the casino to announce that she was leaving him in the middle of the night, out of nowhere. It would have to wait til the morning.

"Danny. I need to do this right..." She hoped he understood without her having to spell it out. Tess' sensible side was firmly kicking in, this had to be done sanely and not like some neurotic madwoman.

She knew that doing it right for Danny was right now, tonight, though. Her spending another night with Terry would be akin to twisting the knife. And if she had to choose who to do right by, she would choose Danny.

[ocean_danny]

Tess' reluctance was evident on his face as it dropped, not immediately even beginning to understand.

"How long have you been putting your life on hold already? Is there really any reason, even one reason, why you should stop from doing what you know is right even for another minute?"

He had to wonder if he was getting through, though he admired her in a way. For her courage, for her belief in doing the right thing, despite her misguided belief in a man that never deserved her in the first place, far less warranted a second thought at a time like this.

But if it had to be her way or not at all, he would pick her way every time. If it would end up with her being back in his arms.

[tess_ocean]

It seemed then, that this was going to be done Danny's way. He had a point. There was no reason to delay, not one that she could comfortably let him suffer for anyway.

"Okay," she said quietly, the trepidation of the task ahead apparent in her expression.

"I'll go back, and wait for him. He shouldn't be much more than an hour." For all her anxiety, there was a smile there for Danny, a smile that served as a final reassurance to herself as much as him, that this was what she truly wanted.

"Where will you be?"

[ocean_danny]

"Okay. I'll be here."

Danny wondered if it would be an idea to go with her, just to see she was alright. He guessed she wouldn't have let him. Pride, for one, wouldn't let any man, even him, do her talking for her and also she may even want to protect him.

He knew Benedict wouldn't hurt her. He didn't have it in him.

"Keep your phone on. If you're not back at this table in a couple of hours, I will be calling."

[tess_ocean]

He'd be right, her question of 'where will you be?' was partly to let him know that she was indeed quite capable of, not to mention wanting to, doing this on her own.

"I don't have a cellphone. But I'll be back, I promise." She squeezed his hand gently and smiled before she stood up to return to the apartment.

[ocean_danny]

Danny smiled back in response, whispering in her ear.

"Check your pocket."